Reaching for the Stars: July 2012

I have had the coolest sight in the morning on my walks. The other morning while walking on the lake path, I flushed a large bird. I followed it with my eyes and discovered a barred owl perched in a willow about 15 feet from the path. We just silently looked at each other for a long time. Suddenly, it began to raise it's shoulders and cry with a "screeeee". Then it would pause, and then call with a "screeeee". The longer I stood still, the more calm it became, until it stopped calling.
I continued on my walk and passed many people walking, running, talking and being loud. I figured that the owl would be long gone on my return loop. As I passed the spot, I didn't see the owl and thought for sure it was gone. A closer look led me right to it, in the same spot in the tree. A woman was walking past and I quietly motioned for her to look. She couldn't find it at first either, but eventually did, and she asked me how in the world I ever spotted it. I shared my story with her.
The following day, there was no owl. On the third day, I saw it and stopped. It looked strange, as if something was wrong with it's head. I took some cautious steps closer and realized that a second owl was perched right behind it. I stood for a long time just staring at the magnificence of these two creatures. I realized that time had probably gotten away from me, so I began to walk away when I noticed a third owl on the branch above the pair I had been watching. Wow!
Now that I know what their little "screeeee" cry sounds like, I hear the two that I don't normally see, calling to one another in the nearby trees, while the bold owl sits perched in the willow and looks at me. I feel so very blessed to have this rare opportunity to look at such magnificent creatures in nature.

Here's a link to some barred owl facts:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birding/barred-owl/

Friday, July 20, 2012

Life Before Death

Barred Owl